Janmashtami 2010 + Ratha Yatra 2010 II

I attended the 3rd Janmashtami celebration (this year) yesterday. It was at Regent School. I am so thankful to Krishna. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to go because I just had 2 of my wisdom teeth extracted. I was worried I would have some serious after-effects. But Krishna has been taking good care of me, and I am eternally grateful. The celebration was incredible. Unfortunately, I did not get to see HH Jayapatak Swami Maharaj. He was there earlier. I did get to see HH Mahavishnu Swami and he was so awesome! He was so much fun. There was a Ratha Yatra and then there was a cultural program. So there were dances done by the youth of ISKCON Dubai. There were little kids performing and they were SOOO CUTE in their costumes! Mahavishnu Swami gave a nice lecture and sang us a song that he wrote, called, "Living in the City of Nine Gates". It's been stuck in my head ever since! Afterwards, when everyone was cleaning up, there was another roaring kirtan with the few devotees who had stayed till the end, as well as the organizers. I remember thinking, "Wow, the party never stops!" They went all over the place singing, engaging as many devotees in kirtan as possible. At one point, Mahavishnu Swami lay himself down on the floor, while still playing the harmonium, and everyone else also lay themselves down, paying obeisances, placing their heads at his feet, touching his feet, etc. It was so much fun to watch!

Scroll down to see pictures!

[caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Govardhan Lila"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_389" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Birthday Boys: We all sang for them and the matajis fed them delicious cake on stage!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_390" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kansa, Vasudeva and Devaki"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_391" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The demigods offering prayers to Krishna"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Lila of the Syamantaka Jewel"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_393" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Radha-Krishna"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Baladeva, Subhadra and Jagganath"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="HH Mahavishnu Swami preaching"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_396" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Mahavishnu Swami's Lotus Feet"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_397" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Tamil Theatre: "Song on a Bow""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_398" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="HH Mahavishnu Swami's gift: A new hat!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_399" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="More gifts! Krishna Conscious banners"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Baladev, Subhadra and Jagganath Deities"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Chariot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Radha-Krishna deities"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_403" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The After Party"][/caption]